Millions of federal and local dollars have flowed into Colorado coffers to help counties along the Front Range deal with the massive floods that have claimed lives, toppled roads and displaced thousands of residents.

Now, local, state and national officials have the tedious job of assessing structures in more than a dozen counties affected by flooding.

Experts in natural disasters warn against any fast assessments of damage resulting from the massive flooding.

"Waters subside at different intervals," said Bob Holmes, a national flood-hazard specialist for the U.S. Geological Survey. "There's no predictable time frame for when floods will no longer be impacting these communities."

Water flows through the property at 51 S. Bowen St. in Longmont, Colorado on Saturday morning, Sept. 14, 2013. (Lewis Geyer, Longmont Times-Cal)

Engineers with the Colorado Department of Transportation have been dispatched to assess roads and bridges.

"Everyone is on call," CDOT spokeswoman Amy Ford said of the engineers who are working to reopen "a couple hundred" roads and bridges.

"Our first priority is safety, and we're working diligently to get these roads and bridges back up and running," she said.

Some roads probably will remain closed for weeks, if not months, because of extensive damage to them, including Dillon Road in Broomfield and Colorado 7, a portion of which was washed away by the St. Vrain River near Lyons.

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During cleanup, engineers will inspect asphalt to make sure no additional roads buckle. To cover costs, which have yet to be determined because CDOT is in response mode, the department is using cash from its state emergency fund. The department Friday received a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help reopen roads and bridges.

Gov. John Hickenlooper on Friday signed an executive order that authorizes $6 million from the state's general fund to go to 14 counties.

Officials from some of the counties said many are in the preliminary stages of assessments because they're also still responding to events.

"We've had experience with flash floods quite a bit this summer, especially in Manitou Springs," said Bob Rose, a spokesman for El Paso County. "
But with this round of flooding, the county is now involved with damage to roads and several structures."

Micki Trost, public information officer for the state Office of Emergency Management, said the agency is working with local officials.

The sheer destruction, Trost said, makes it difficult for crews to get into evacuated areas.

In coming weeks, detailed assessments — projected to be in the millions of dollars — will be completed.

President Barack Obama, who has approved federal disaster assistance, asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate with Colorado officials.

Under the current declaration, FEMA would cover 75 percent of eligible costs associated with emergency and protective measures. State and local jurisdictions would cover the remaining amount.

"These are for emergency costs only, it's important to know. This is not for rebuilding or assessments," Trost said Friday, adding that detailed records from counties must be kept so they can be reimbursed.

Holmes said Coloradans, faced with flooding of this scale, should expect additional disasters that can come with floods.

"Mudslides and sinkholes are likely in mountainous terrain," Holmes said. "That's why assessing the situation thoroughly is needed before things like roads are opened."

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